Breakaway Unions and the Small Trade Union

Originally published in 1961 and based on primary sources, this book examines inter-union disputes and trade union history. It reveals the human reactions involved in one of the most intractable spheres of industrial relations. The author made a number of case studies. The first demonstrates the difficult relationship of the small union with more powerful unions. The second shows that the Trades Union Congress (T.U.C.) was inclined to ignore rank-and-file wishes when it sought to settle jurisdictional disputes and how such disregard of members’ feelings brought fresh problems in its train. A third study traces the birth and death of a Communist breakaway union in the London clothing industry, which demoralised and dis-organised East End workers between 1928 and 1935, while the fourth analyses the causes of secessions from a civil service union. This study also demonstrates the role of the political parties and of government when confronted with inter-union disputes.